Stabilized nitrated starch.



- gredients.

FLETCHER B. HOLMES, OF WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE E; 'I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS POWDER JERSEY.

COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE,'A CORPORATION OF NEW STABILIZED NITRATED s'rimc n.

Patented Jan. 7, 1908.

Application filed May 20, 1907- Se rialNa 374,534-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLETCHER B. HOLMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVoodbury, county of Gloucester, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stabilized N itrated Starch, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is'to stable nitrated starch.

Nitrated starch may be used as an exploproduce sive itself, or preferably'may be used as a component part of an explosive, such as where it is mixed with sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, or some other oxygen carrier, with or without the addition of other in- The dilliculty with nitrated starch is that it is very unstable, being liable to decomposition. 'VVhen such nitrated starclrdecomposes, which it is liable to do at ordinary temperatures, it becomes liable to spontaneous combustion.

I have discovered that I can produce a stable nitrated starch by mixing with nitrated starch any salt of toluidin, such as toluidin oxalate (CI-I ,C,,H,NI-I,),II C O which is the salt of toluidin I prefer to use. Toluidin hydrochlorid, toluidin nitrate, toluidin sulfate, etc. may also be used. a

In practice the reagent is mixed withthe mtrated starch, prepared" in the ordinary and well known manner. The mixing may be made in any manner to produce a good mixture. They may be mixed Wet or dry and in any kind of a mixer. Preferably I mix the two, in a finely divided powdered condition, in a bowl provided with stirrers or paddles and in an amount; preferably from two to five per cent, although larger and smallerjamounts can be used with success. I have found three per cent. to give good results.

Having now fully described my invention, What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:- v 1 1. A stable nitrated starch, consisting of a mixture of nitrated starch and asalt of toluidin, the latter being in such proportion as ,to stabilize the nitrated starch.

2.. A stable explosive, consisting of a 1niX' the latter being in such proportion as to stabilize the nitrated starch.

4. A stable explosive, consisting of a mixture of nitrated starch and from two to iive per cent. of toluidin oxalate.

'In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set in hand, at Philadelphia, on

this 15th day 0 May, 1907. 1

FLETCHER B. HOLMES.

Witnesses:

M. M. HAMILTON, E. E. WALL. 

